'Driverless' bullet trains to debut at Japan's JR East in 2030s

Nikkei Wednesday | 05/10/2023 16:57

East Japan Railway aims to automate some of its bullet trains in the coming years. Photo by Konosuke Urata.

East Japan Railway will introduce largely automated bullet trains in the mid-2030s under plans announced Tuesday, a labor-saving measure that would be a first for the company.

JR East aims to achieve Grade of Automation 3 (GoA3) -- a level at which the train can drive itself, with a human handling the doors and taking over in emergencies.

The driverless trains will first be used on the Joetsu Shinkansen line between Tokyo and the central Japanese city of Niigata. JR East is considering rolling out them out on its Hokuriku line as well.

Before the technology enters commercial use, the company plans to trial GoA4, or fully unattended, trains on runs without passengers between the Niigata end of the Joetsu line and the nearby rolling stock center.

It tested an automatic train operation system on this stretch in late 2021.

JR East inked a memorandum of understanding on technical cooperation in bullet train automation with West Japan Railway in April. The duo will work together to develop the necessary systems and reduce costs.

Source: Nikkei Asia